Genesis 31 Parallel Bible

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	ESV English Standard Version	NABRE New American Bible Revised	NIV New International Version
1	Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.”	Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father, and he has produced all this wealth from our father’s property.”	Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.”
2	And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before.	Jacob perceived, too, that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had previously been.	And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.
3	Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”	Then the LORD said to Jacob: Return to the land of your ancestors, where you were born, and I will be with you.	Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4	So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was	So Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah to meet him in the field where his flock was.	So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were.
5	and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me.	There he said to them: “I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me is not as it was in the past; but the God of my father has been with me.	He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.
6	You know that I have served your father with all my strength,	You know well that with all my strength I served your father;	You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength,
7	yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.	yet your father cheated me and changed my wages ten times. God, however, did not let him do me any harm.	yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me.
8	If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped.	Whenever your father said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wages,’ the entire flock would bear speckled young; whenever he said, ‘The streaked animals will be your wages,’ the entire flock would bear streaked young.	If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young.
9	Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.	So God took away your father’s livestock and gave it to me.	So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10	In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled.	Once, during the flock’s mating season, I had a dream in which I saw he-goats mating that were streaked, speckled and mottled.	“In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted.
11	Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’	In the dream God’s angel said to me, ‘Jacob!’ and I replied, ‘Here I am!’	The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’
12	And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.	Then he said: ‘Look up and see. All the he-goats that are mating are streaked, speckled and mottled, for I have seen all the things that Laban has been doing to you.	And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.
13	I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’”	I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a sacred pillar and made a vow to me. Get up now! Leave this land and return to the land of your birth.’”	I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’”
14	Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house?	Rachel and Leah answered him: “Do we still have an heir’s portion in our father’s house?	Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate?
15	Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money.	Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? He not only sold us; he has even used up the money that he got for us!	Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.
16	All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”	All the wealth that God took away from our father really belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.”	Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.”
17	So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels.	Jacob proceeded to put his children and wives on camels,	Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels,
18	He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac.	and he drove off all his livestock and all the property he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.	and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19	Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods.	Now Laban was away shearing his sheep, and Rachel had stolen her father’s household images.	When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods.
20	And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee.	Jacob had hoodwinked Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was going to flee.	Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away.
21	He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.	Thus he fled with all that he had. Once he was across the Euphrates, he headed for the hill country of Gilead.	So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
22	When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled,	On the third day, word came to Laban that Jacob had fled.	On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.
23	he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead.	Taking his kinsmen with him, he pursued him for seven days until he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.	Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.
24	But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”	But that night God appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and said to him: Take care not to say anything to Jacob.	Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
25	And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead.	When Laban overtook Jacob, Jacob’s tents were pitched in the hill country; Laban also pitched his tents in the hill country of Gilead.	Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too.
26	And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword?	Laban said to Jacob, “How could you hoodwink me and carry off my daughters like prisoners of war?	Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.
27	Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre?	Why did you dupe me by stealing away secretly? You did not tell me! I would have sent you off with joyful singing to the sound of tambourines and harps.	Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps?
28	And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly.	You did not even allow me a parting kiss to my daughters and grandchildren! Now what you have done makes no sense.	You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing.
29	It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’	I have it in my power to harm all of you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Take care not to say anything to Jacob!’	I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’
30	And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”	Granted that you had to leave because you were longing for your father’s house, why did you steal my gods?”	Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you steal my gods?”
31	Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.	Jacob replied to Laban, “I was frightened at the thought that you might take your daughters away from me by force.	Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.
32	Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.	As for your gods, the one you find them with shall not remain alive! If, with our kinsmen looking on, you identify anything here as belonging to you, take it.” Jacob had no idea that Rachel had stolen the household images.	But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.
33	So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s.	Laban then went in and searched Jacob’s tent and Leah’s tent, as well as the tents of the two maidservants; but he did not find them. Leaving Leah’s tent, he went into Rachel’s.	So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he found nothing. After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent.
34	Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them.	Meanwhile Rachel had taken the household images, put them inside the camel’s saddlebag, and seated herself upon them. When Laban had rummaged through her whole tent without finding them,	Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.
35	And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods.	she said to her father, “Do not let my lord be angry that I cannot rise in your presence; I am having my period.” So, despite his search, he did not find the household images.	Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.” So he searched but could not find the household gods.
36	Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?	Jacob, now angered, confronted Laban and demanded, “What crime or offense have I committed that you should hound me?	Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged you that you hunt me down?
37	For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two.	Now that you have rummaged through all my things, what have you found from your household belongings? Produce it here before your kinsmen and mine, and let them decide between the two of us.	Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.
38	These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks.	“In the twenty years that I was under you, no ewe or she-goat of yours ever miscarried, and I have never eaten rams of your flock.	“I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks.
39	What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.	I never brought you an animal torn by wild beasts; I made good the loss myself. You held me responsible for anything stolen by day or night.	I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night.
40	There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.	Often the scorching heat devoured me by day, and the frost by night, while sleep fled from my eyes!	This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.
41	These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.	Of the twenty years that I have now spent in your household, I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, while you changed my wages ten times.	It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.
42	If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”	If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, you would now have sent me away empty-handed. But God saw my plight and the fruits of my toil, and last night he reproached you.”	If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.”
43	Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne?	Laban replied to Jacob: “The daughters are mine, their children are mine, and the flocks are mine; everything you see belongs to me. What can I do now for my own daughters and for the children they have borne?	Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne?
44	Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.”	Come, now, let us make a covenant, you and I; and it will be a treaty between you and me.”	Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.”
45	So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.	Then Jacob took a stone and set it up as a sacred pillar.	So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.
46	And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap.	Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” So they got stones and made a mound; and they ate there at the mound.	He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap.
47	Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.	Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.	Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.
48	Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed,	Laban said, “This mound will be a witness from now on between you and me.” That is why it was named Galeed—	Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed.
49	and Mizpah, for he said, “The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight.	and also Mizpah, for he said: “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are out of each other’s sight.	It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.
50	If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.”	If you mistreat my daughters, or take other wives besides my daughters, know that even though no one else is there, God will be a witness between you and me.”	If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”
51	Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me.	Laban said further to Jacob: “Here is this mound, and here is the sacred pillar that I have set up between you and me.	Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me.
52	This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm.	This mound will be a witness, and this sacred pillar will be a witness, that, with hostile intent, I may not pass beyond this mound into your territory, nor may you pass beyond it into mine.	This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me.
53	The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac,	May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us!” Jacob took the oath by the Fear of his father Isaac.	May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.
54	and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country.	He then offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his kinsmen to share in the meal. When they had eaten, they passed the night on the mountain.	He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.
55	Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.	Early the next morning, Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them; then he set out on his journey back home.	Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.
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Genesis 31 Parallel Bible Translations